Question re: wrecked 2001 360 Spyder

1st: sounds like everyone is ok. I'm glad. Beyond that, nothing really matters.

2nd: Only in america. You crash on a track, and it must be someone elses fault...

 

glad that only the cars damaged and that you still are here to talk about it...first question i have is
before the event did the car drive/track straight or did it seem to want to veer to the right under breaking or while going straight?
did you drive the car to the track and then check the pressures once you arrived?..
did you re-adjust the tire air pressures before the sessions and what were the numbers before you went out in the session?
how many laps did you run at speed before things happened?

 

Front air bags are designed to protect you in a front end crash. Therefore there are sensors in the front of the car that tell the air bags when to deploy. Since you hit going backwards, there was nothing to set off the sensors. There would have been no point to having the airbags go off since your body is moving away from the dash.

What could they be trying to cover up with an over inflated tire? Once you notices the psi in that tire, did you let some of the air out?

Seems to me like you are just looking for someone to blame for your own mistake..

 

or someone to sue since insurance won't cover an on-track crash

 

2 observations:

Compare those pressures to the Factory sticker, in modern tires usually 45PSI is the MAX or even higher, it sounds to me like your fronts were low, not your rears were too high..

Sensors for airbags are in the front so they won't trigger backing in the car, unless REALLY Hard..

Always set your tires before tracking and usually a trip to the Shop with request for fresh fluids is well advised before going to get fresh brake fluid....

Glad you are ok...

 

+1

 

You are very welcome...

Sorry to hear of your rough start, but hang in there......possibly track debris?


The other thought that comes to mind is maybe a previous repair, on a street tire. I'll run repaired tires at 'in town' speeds but then would want a known item on the ground, for track use....

Take it easy in any event, as we don't want to lose a new member!

 

Thank GOD you two are safe.

It's only a flesh wound!!!!!!
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What type of SCCA event was this? I have had friends who have wrecked and the insurance covered on track damage, as long as it was a 'learning course type event' and not a 'racing event'.

 

Not the way you want to introduce yourself for sure!

OTOH, I got three tickets in the Ferrari last week from a Horse Mounted Policeman, some days your luck just goes that way..

 

Where are you located? Maybe someone can recommend a body shop that will get you back on your way.
Erik

 

Most, if not all, new insurance policies specifically exclude paying for damages of any kind under any circunstances if the car is on a track. Anyone would be smart to double check their policies before tracking their car.

Another note: A repaired tire loses it's speed rating and is useless or dangerous for track driving. Anyone contemplating a track event should be sure the tires have never been repaired i.e. buy them yourself. Don't know if that was an issue here, but it may be.

Dave

 

That was my point Dave, it sure sounds like that type of failure..

My guys make me PROMISE before they'll repair them as even "loose" they know what they came from....as you say only a fresh set do you know "for sure"....

 

There won't be record of the incident.......being "off road" and all.....

You might check the closest Ferrari Authorized location, Ferrari of Houston is one.......they'll repair it to as new.......they told me once "properly repaired there IS no loss of value".....LOL!

As gentlemen we just don't discuss such things..

I laughed once when an independent adjuster told me on a Vintage claim, "we just assume that a Ferrari this old has hit a few things".......I fell out laughing at his honesty...

You know the axiom about old Indy drivers: "Those that have hit the wall, and those that will...."

 

Hate to say it, but that may be more than 40K.

Largely depends on if there is damage to suspension attach points (likely), motor / tranny / diff (possibly), and what lies beneath the body damage. how bad is the door? Is there a stain on the driver's seat? (attempt at humour - if i'd shunted my Dad's ferrari, Depends wouldn't have contained it!).

Just want you to be prepared for the car to possibly be totalled

 

That's the deal with a Factory shop they can gauge it on big tables...Lake Forest in Chicago maybe???

 

I would put "no stories" spider value in the 120-130K range in the US today (again sorry).

Signif damage history would bring a spider down to coupe prices IMHO... $95K (and that may be optomistic IMHO) If it gets a salvage title, even lower... maybe 60-70K.

Just my opinion. I have no special knowledge...

Sorry Tex, unfortunately I think providing data can aid in making a sensible financial decision... not trying to be un-gentlemanly. But this is real $$$.

 

Sorry for your misfortune. Odd that the fronts were that low, as the rear pressure you measured on the tire that failed beforehand was much closer to optimum track values.

Cannot recommend Jack Babbitt at NJB enough. Please send him my regards. He was at the event.

I would still inquire with Hagerty. Most policies state that an event that has no "timing component" is not a "competitive" event.

The PDX program has been specifically set up specifically to allow folks to drive in a safe, controlled environment away from the hazards of the street. This is an event which would NOT be considered a "race" or "competitive" event by most insurers. Now, they may pay the claim and not renew your policy, but there are several claims that I know that have been paid by mainstream insurers (Allstate, State Farm) that occurred on the race track. Also, in some states (NC and NJ for two), exclusions for track use are not permitted.

Good luck and again, hope you head back to the track with your beautiful car!

 

This is only a guess but possibly the one tire with high pressure might have recently been repaired. The tire techs often over pressurize a tire to seat the bead but normally they reset it before mounting it on the car. If my guess is correct, then possibly you were driving on tire with a patch (worse yet a plug). I don't know if you've de-mounted the tire for inspection but it might be worth the trouble.